Proverbs 2:21 “for the upright will inhabit the land, and those with integrity will remain in it”.
Years ago in another country, I experienced a somewhat weird season in life. I was heavily involved in a small local church, helping and leading two youth nights each week, overseeing Sunday School on Sundays, and assisting the elders and trustees with their roles. I at times would be asked to preach as well. I was enjoying these roles and as well had a busy demanding full-time job, each week was full. I started to notice that people would be distancing themselves a little from me, seemed a little colder at times, and I found myself working hard to try and win some people back to a better relationship. Even in the street at times I would see people that I did not know looking at me in a weird way. It was a small town and everyone knew everyone if you know what I mean. This went on for months and at one point it was really starting to impact my mental health.
Eventually, a story came out. A young lady in the church that I attended and served at had been telling people that I was going up to her house at night and staying there, and then that I ignored her during the day. People would phone her at night and she would say to them, “sorry I can’t speak just now, Allan is here”. Things started to make sense to me, as this young lady would often be in the street when I was there, often with her friends around her, and now that I thought about it, it was her friends that would be giving me funny looks a lot of the time.
I waited until I saw her one day with all her friends around her and then I walked up to them altogether. I addressed her by name and then loud enough for the whole group to hear, I said, “I have never been at your house, I have never stayed at your house, and I have no idea what sort of fantasy you are living in, or what lies you are telling all your friends here. I will never be at your house, we do not have any sort of relationship and we never will. You need to stop spreading these lies about me now please”.
There was total silence and a few of the other young ladies looked at their feet as I spoke. I walked away, and I knew that my peace of mind was restored and that the issue was concluded.
KNOWLEDGE
Here the promise goes onwards and goes deeper and broader. We perceive who the promise is for. It reminds me of Jesus promise – Matt 13:12 whoever has will be given more…….
You have earnestly sought God, prospected for wisdom, craved insight, gleaned understanding from every possible source and have an insatiable hunger for knowledge. You have passed over the border, nobody asked you for your credentials as you live them out as much as you carry them with you, the evidence is seen in the path you take. You are at home here, everything you have focused on gaining is the currency in the place you find yourself. You choose to stay. You are at rest wherever you are, you rest, and you are restored, you have freedom and you flourish, you have peace, and you have prosperity.
Many have tried to take you off-course, to lead you down their paths, to convince you to throw in your lot with them, to enjoy the things they enjoy and to see the benefits that they see. You have made your decisions consistently each day which paths to travel and which paths to avoid – in your thinking, in your listening, in your watching, in your activity, and in your moving.
UNDERSTANDING
Let’s pick one word from this verse to look closer at and see if that can help us gain a deeper insight into how God would love us to live?
“upright” [pronounced as “yasar” in Hebrew] has 119 mentions in the Old Testament [ESV]. It is translated as, upright; right; honest; pleased; best and fittest; safe; straight; and, terms of the agreement. In Proverbs 2:21, we see the meaning expounded to be, not crooked, no twisting, in other words, morally straight. Webster’s dictionary has it as – morally erect, having rectitude. How is your moral rectitude today?
WISDOM: What is the fruit you are gathering from your actions – rest or rushed, peace or perplexity.
STRENGTHS THOUGHT: Harmony searches for common ground, looking to bring peace, with the best, not the easiest solution.
Allan’s Unauthorised Version [for those ethically straight will abide at peace in their nations, and those people who are sincere and without moral blemish will abound and find real rest.]
PRAYER: Father, thank you for today. Please help me to be open to repentance each day, and to keep short accounts with you and others.
Amen.
I know someone who has lived a morally upright life, who was truly humble and loved by many. He is surely now enjoying real rest with his Saviour in heaven. 🙂
Thank you so much Allan.
“ what is the fruit you are gathering from your actions – rest or rushed, peace or perplexity”. What a powerful question this is to ask ones self.
I know without doubt that when I ask Holy Spirit for his help each day the fruit is good, but when I fail to invite Him in, the opposite is true. When I invite Him in and allow Him to lead guide and direct me, it then that I enter into and live out of a place a rest.
Thanks Allan for such great insight .
I receive that promise from God Amen! Living up rightly I’ve come to understand and accept doesn’t mean being perfect as a believer. And I’m grateful for that. But to me it does say , living for Jesus means allowing him to convict your heart when something isn’t right there. And sometimes that can be a battle. He has great things for us to step into when we keep a right heart and places to inhabit that are blessed.
Thanks Ps Allan,
Part of this song comes to mind, “Find rest my soul in Christ alone, know his power in quietness and trust.”
Staying true to what I know is right and just and knowing God has all this covered. Rest, Peace, Trust, Integrity will keep you grounded ‘in the land’
Amen. Living an upright life with integrity means you set yourself up for a life pleasing to God.
Thank you Pastor Allan once again today!
Our choices are clear – we function best when we live according to God’s rules! Sin causes our lives to break down & things go wrong! Our society tells us quite often to live uprightly & with integrity is hard but to live wickedly is even harder!! The older you get & hopefully the wiser you realise that nothing compares to knowing Jesus & following God’s ways is the very best & only way to live your life.
That is such a great Wisdom question! What is the fruit I am gathering from my actions?
And I pray that God will grace and empower me to bring Harmony, peace and the best solution to situations 🙏
Thanks for these valuable thoughts Ps Allan.
Knowing and trusting God with y our life .
We can be assured that in Him we find rest ,freedom and peace.
Even when we are faced with temptation ,
The love of Jesus helps us to stay on his path, and to guard our heart against evil,
I’m grateful for his guidance and leading in my life
I pray God will always be present in the journey I am on .
It is indeed reassuring to know that when we stand upright and stay on course, we enjoy the promises of God – rest and healing, peace and prosperity.
Thank you Pastor Allan.
I can really relate to your story soooo much, when I did not walk upright, when I did I had that peace that I never had until I met my saviour, now i truly trust in him (Jesus) to bring about that peace in my life 😉
I too can relate to these
Walking upright can be challenging when carrying the baggage that comes with doing the opposite
With gods Unconditional love
Gaining the strength to unshackle that baggage
Makes the journey easier
I am so sorry this was your experience Allan. What had gone so very wrong for this young woman that she was so desperate for attention.
These verses (21 and 22) bring so much deep meaning and truth to me. It’s God’s promise of justice and goodness and who He wants to be a loving custodian of those who are also in that land. This is a wonderful passage and will be one I keep coming back to when those paths are hard and people treacherous.